Receive God’s word with humility and respect

 

"And he said to me, 'Son of man, receive in your heart all my words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears.' Ezekiel 3:10 

God loves us very much, and everything He says and commands is for our own benefit. However, the biggest problem for today's Christians is that they only want to hear certain kinds of words. Even when they attend church services and listen to God's teachings, they come with expectations of hearing specific things. 

The Word of God says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness; 2 Timothy 3:16." When you go to church or attend a service, you should go with humility and a heart ready to receive the word that God will speak through His servants. Do not go to a service with your criteria of what you want to hear or who you want to hear from. Go to church to hear God only. 

God said in the book of "Isaiah 66:2 ...but this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." We should always receive God's word with respect and humility. Do not oppose God's word or criticize the preaching during sermons. Do not think you know more than what is being read and taught. Be humble and listen to the teaching; you will learn many things. 

What should you do if the person reading God's word is not righteous, and their actions do not align with God's word? Jesus told His disciples about the Pharisees, "So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. Matthew 23:3." Do not refuse to listen to God's word because the person reading and preaching it, is a sinner. You should be receptive to God's message, regardless of the preacher's personal righteousness, as long as what he preaches aligns with the Bible. Listen to the word of God, and leave preacher's personal life aside. 

But be cautious not to listen to false teachings. Those who teach false doctrines are known by the things they say, which are not found in the Bible, and some use God's word for their own benefit. But for you child of God, you have the Holy Spirit within you, He will show you what is true so that you can hold on to it. 

When you go to church, go with humility and listen to God's word with humility. Do not just want to hear pleasant things. Some of you only want to hear about prosperity, you want to hear God will bless you financially, you will get a house, a car. Those are the kind of things Christians of today want to hear. 

But listen, if the word admonishes and rebukes you, accept it and repent. Listen to the word of God carefully especially when it correct you, because true prosperity and blessings comes only when we obey Gods word. Tomorrow, I will talk to you about the consequences of not listening to God's word. 

Prayer: O LORD, I ask for Your mercy for every time I didn't have humility in me to respect and receive Your word. I pray that You give me obedience and humility in my heart so that I may hear and receive Your word. Amen.